The Amp Garage

KGW - Cool. Much better tube layout, Eh? One question: What the h#!@ are those 220K 1 watt resistors attached to and what are they doing there? The 220k are the bias feed resistors - read TUT1 and the Garnet book for an explanation. Basically, it improves the life of the EL34s and (IMHO) is a neate...

I rewired my express again using the tube sockets from Mojo. Here are some pix: http://beggingdogrecords.tripod.com/TWEX.html . The amp sounds good, but is still not hum free. I had my doubts that using the "correct" sockets would make any difference since the hum is always there. Note, it is not te...

Mojotone site is down - was going to order some new sockets

Look at the bottom of page one. http://tdsl.duncanamps.com/sheets/ecc83/ecc83.pdf LeeMo That is interesting. This is in reference to a "cascade" amplifier (which is different that V2 in an Express). One could imply that since using the pins 6,7,8 triode as the first stage in a cascade configuration...

OK, back to my amp.... I played it for a while last night with my strat. I really didn't like it - especially bad on chords. Lead tones were better, but I still have the "phase distortion sound" that I mentioned earlier on sustained notes. I tried my Marshall "clone" for comparison - much better cla...

Kevin - If you correct the cathode bias, you will not increase the gain. Of course you are correct about that, however grounding the unused pins may do the same thing - maybe even better - would have to try. An earlier version of one of my hifi (SE 2A3) amps used half a tube and grounded the unused...

In fact, if you read Aikens, he says that joining BOTH triods, (and readjust the cathode when you do), will give you the quietest result. Yes, quieter than running a single triod. ?? You have to wonder why KF didn't give this a go, but he was probably happy with his results. Do you mean wiring them...

I did notice the orientation. I drilled the holes like on Francesca and then noticed that the sockets that I had on hand were 90˚ off from the ones that Ken used. I guess I could drill more holes, but I didn't. Another thing about the original sockets is that they look to be almost flush with t...

So did you orig wire it using Alan's suggested ground scheme or did you just change it to that? What was it before and what is it now? Nice looking build. There appears to be at least one OD near the fuse holder...what's that for? Why did you mount the bias resistors on the socket? Always curious! ...

I just adjust the volume up or down for humbuckers vs single coils. My Express clone sounds good with both my strat and my Fender Flame (humbuckers). I have another guitar with old EMGs that I don't particularly like with the Express. On the other hand, my 50W Marshall 1987 clone sounds great with h...

http://beggingdogrecords.tripod.com/TWEX.html Obsessive as I am, I did another rewire (I've done at least 3) on my express clone to try to further reduce the hum and fix a "sound" that I was getting during sustained notes (note rings, low end fades out and back in). I have not had much time to play ...

http://beggingdogrecords.tripod.com/TWEX.html Obsessive as I am, I did another rewire (I've done at least 3) on my express clone to try to further reduce the hum and fix a "sound" that I was getting during sustained notes (note rings, low end fades out and back in). I have not had much time to play ...

1. Cleaned up the tone stack wiring so that all wires run close together and lay against the chassis 2. Rerouted the wire from the impedence selector to the presence pot so it is off the chassis (floating). 3. Same for the wire from the presence pot to the PI. 4. Twisted the primary OT wires (not i...

gearhead wrote:"built a TWEX clone last winter using ApexJr's solid core/teflon coated wire"

FWIW, he also sells teflon/twisted strand silver plated wire.

I knew that but thanks. I have used Welborne Lab's teflon/stranded as well.

Thanks for the answers so far. I also like the shields OT wires. Anyway, the solid vs stranded wire from the PI to the grids DID make a difference. It could be that the ApexJr wire had a really thin coat of teflon coating. My TWEX clone was wired with this wire and doesn't have oscillation problems....